The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh graces commissioning ceremony of INS Sandhayak at the Naval Dockyard, in Visakhapatnam on February 03, 2024.
Visakhapatnam: INS Sandhayak (Yard 3025), the first Survey Vessel Large (SVL) ship, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard, here today.
The primary role of the ship is to carry out full-scale hydrographic surveys of ports, harbours, navigational channels/routes, coastal areas and deep seas, towards enabling safe marine navigation.
In its secondary role, the ship will be capable of undertaking a range of naval operations.
The commissioning ceremony marked the formal induction of the first of the four ships of the SVL Project under construction at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The project has been steered by the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy.
The keel was laid on March 12, 2019, and the ship was launched on December 05, 2021. It has undergone a comprehensive schedule of trials in the harbour and at sea, leading up to commissioning. The ship has a displacement of 3,400 tons and an overall length of 110 metres with a beam of 16 metres.
INS Sandhayak is equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic equipment including deep and shallow water multi-beam echo-sounders, autonomous underwater vehicle, remotely operated vehicle, side scan sonars, data acquisition and processing system, satellite-based positioning systems and terrestrial survey equipment. The ship is propelled by two diesel engines and is capable of achieving speeds above 18 knots. It has an indigenous content of over 80% by cost and is a tribute to the collaborative efforts between the Indian Navy and Industry, including MSMEs. Its induction underscores the growing maritime interests and capabilities of the nation.
‘Sandhayak’ means the one who carries out a special search. The crest depicts the sixteen points of a mariner’s compass, enclosing a ‘divider’ and an ‘anchor’ riding the sea, symbolising the charting of oceans, which is the basic role of the survey ship. The commissioning is an affirmation of India’s expertise in warship design and construction.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the commissioning as historic, exuding confidence that INS Sandhayak will further strengthen India’s role as a superpower in the Indo-Pacific region and help the Indian Navy in maintaining peace and security.
He expressed hope that INS Sandhayak would go a long way in obtaining information about the oceans and achieve the twin objective of protecting the country as well as other friendly countries and pointed out that the Indian Navy averted five piracy attempts and assisted ships attacked by drones and missiles in the last few days, and rescued 80 fishermen/marines. He referred to the recent drone attack on a British ship in the Gulf of Aden which resulted in the oil tankers catching fire. He commended the Indian Navy for its prompt response in extinguishing the fire, stating that the effort was recognised and appreciated by the world.
“The Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean region is facilitating safe trade while ensuring peace and prosperity. Many defence experts are calling this the rise of a superpower. This is our culture – to protect everyone,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar stated that the SVL project highlights the growing importance attached by the government and the Navy to the quintessential prerequisite to operating at sea-survey of the unfathomable depths of the oceans. He added that to leverage the flexibility to undertake a diverse range of roles and tasks, the Navy has been launching state-of-the-art platforms indigenously. “Be it the mighty aircraft carrier Vikrant, the deadly destroyers of Visakhapatnam Class, the versatile Nilgiri class Frigates, the stealthy Kalvari class submarines, the nimble Shallow Water ASW Craft or the specialised Diving Support Vessels – we are carefully crafting a balanced ‘Aatmanirbhar’ force in service of an ascendant Bharat,” he said.
Admiral Kumar noted that 64 out of 66 ships and submarines under the order were being built in Indian shipyards. This meant that the Navy would invest thousands of crores in this sector, enhancing the capacity of the shipyards, and capabilities of the workers as well as those employed in ancillary industries, he emphasised.
On the Defence Minister’s assurance that strict action will be taken against those who disturb peace in the Indian Ocean, the Chief of the Naval Staff said: “The Indian Navy will not stop until the Indian Ocean becomes completely open, safe and free. We are ready!”.
– global bihari bureau
